Insights

Washington, D.C. – January 13, 2015: Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce the publication of its third annual "Litigation Forecast: What Corporate Counsel Need to Know in the Coming Year," and the introduction of its first-ever "Regulatory Forecast 2015: What Corporate Counsel Need to Know in the Coming Year."

Washington, D.C. – July 28, 2014: Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce that Cheryl A. Falvey has been named among the National Law Journal's 2014 "Governance, Risk and Compliance Trailblazers & Pioneers." This inaugural list, published in the July 28, 2014 issue, highlights the work of attorneys who have truly "moved the needle" in the way law firms conduct business towards governance, risk and compliance.

Lawmakers continue to negotiate the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”), which could prohibit federal procurement or operation of certain foreign-made drones, including those from China, due to national security concerns.  Meanwhile, some executive agencies are moving forward with agency-specific restrictions on use of federal funds for drone operations that rely on Chinese-made aircraft.  The most recent updates come from the Department of Interior (“DOI”) and the Department of Justice (“DOJ”).

Last week, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban some U.S. Federal agencies from purchasing drones and drone components manufactured in certain foreign countries. The “Drone Origin Security Enhancement Act” would prevent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies from purchasing drones based solely on their country of manufacture. A similar bill currently in the Senate, though not as far along as the House bill, would prohibit such procurement by all government agencies. The proposed bills prohibit the procurement of drones manufactured in any nation designated by the Department of Commerce, the Director of National Intelligence or the Secretary of Homeland Security as a national security threat. The main target is China, home of major manufacturers of drones and drone components alike. 

The FAA recently released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The long-awaited rule will require almost all unmanned aircraft systems (“drones”) flying in U.S. airspace to transmit certain identifying information to other aircraft and to people on the ground. Remote ID is an important step in building a robust air traffic system for UAS. The identity and location information will promote safety by providing increased situational awareness for manned and unmanned aircraft and quick access to crucial data for law enforcement and public safety officials. Because implementation of Remote ID is essential to enabling complex drone operations, such as operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), industry stakeholders should carefully review the proposed rule (available here) and consider commenting on the new requirements. Comments to the proposed rule are due to the FAA by March 2, 2020.

Law360 highlights the 2014 second quarter promotions and leadership announcements among various law firms. The Crowell & Moring attorneys mentioned include: Elieen M. Gleimer and Gerald F. Murphy, named co-chairs of the firm's Aviation Group; Bryan Brewer, named co-chair of the firm's Corporate Group; Ian A. Laird, named co-chair of the firm's International Dispute Resolution group; and Eric Edwards, named chair of the firm's Government Affairs Group.